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I think the best American poetry is the poetry that utilizes the resources of poetry rather than exploits the defects or triumphs of the poet's personality.

American poetry, like American painting, is always personal with an emphasis on the individuality of the poet.

American poetry is this country's greatest patrimony. It takes a stranger to see some things clearly. This is one of them, and I am that stranger.

Twentieth-century American poetry has been one of the glories of modern literature.

Distinctly American poetry is usually written in the context of one's geographic landscape, sometimes out of one's cultural myths, and often with reference to gender and race or ethnic origins.

I would say that American poetry has always been a poetry of personal testimony.

From reading a previous answer, you know that I consider all those aspects to be part of American cultural myth and thus they figure into good American poetry, whether the poet is aware of what he is doing or not.

I definitely wish to distinguish American poetry from British or other English language poetry.

It's a big statement if you use the word 'America' in the title of your poem.

The poetry I grew up on is really an intense form of poetry; it's so pure and powerful.